The jet dragster is firing up down below. It’s so loud that almost the entire audience is holding their ears. Fire and smoke shoots out the back as the driver touches the gas. The engine roars and whistles, followed by sounds very similar to a gun shot. Then the ground begins to vibrate. When the driver is finally ready, he pulls up to the starting line and waits for the Christmas tree lights to signal when he can go. Once that green set of lights illuminate, the driver is gone and at the other end of the track in the blink of an eye with nothing but a parachute in our sights.
“Damn! Two hundred and ninety-six miles per hour. I bet that’s a fucking rush and a half.”
“Yeah. Totally insane.” Lexi smiles and moves over to sit on my lap. “Happy work anniversary, babe.”
“You remembered?”
“Of course I remembered. This day is special to you.”
I wrap my arms around her and kiss her sweet lips.
Lexi looks down into the crowd and points to a little boy, maybe about two years old, wearing a pair of noise cancelling headphones.
“Do you see that little one down there? We’re going to need a pair of those head phones.”
“You’re right, Sweet Cheeks,” I agree.
“Soon.” She looks me dead in the eye and her face is completely serious. Tears start to well in those big brown eyes of hers.
Wait a minute. Is she hinting at what I think she’s hinting at?
I start to shake and my eyes grow wide. This would explain so much about why she’s seemed so different lately and why she’s been acting so strange.
“Soon…like, nine months from now, soon?”
She nods and a single tear rolls down her cheek.
“Well, it’s more like eight months from now.” She shrugs.
I lift her off my lap and stand facing her with my hands on her shoulders.
“Babe. Are you serious right now? Is this what the phone call was about earlier in the parking lot?”
“Yeah. It was the doctor’s office confirming the positive pregnancy test.” She sniffles and wipes her eyes. “Are you…happy?”
Tears start to sting the back of my eyes as I imagine what it will be like to have a mini version of the two of us.
I lift her up and she wraps her legs around my waist while I look into those big brown eyes.
“Lexi, you have made me the happiest man on the face of this planet. This entire night, this entire day has been so perfect. And not just today, but every day, you make me so fucking happy.”
“I’m happy too.” She smiles through the tears, and I kiss her hard.
The engines from the NHRA cars roar below and I don’t even care that I’m missing it right now. It’s funny how fate intervenes in our lives. One day I’m sitting down to eat cheese fries at my favorite diner, and next thing I know I’m married with a baby on the way and working my dream job.
Sometimes life turns out fucking great when you go through it full throttle.
Acknowledgments
Wow. Where do I even begin? I’m always so nervous that I’m going to forget someone. Please know that if I do, it was completely unintentional.
To my readers, thank you for your encouragement and kind words, and most importantly, your patience throughout this past year. Real life decided to throw a few curve balls my way, and writing had to take the back seat at times. You all stuck by my side every step of the way though, and I’m eternally grateful. I hope you enjoyed the conclusion to Coen and Lexi’s story. But don’t worry, I have a feeling this isn’t the last you’ll see of them. wink
To Jenn, thank you, for everything. Your friendship, guidance and support, means the world to me and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all that you do. Love you!
To the Social Butterfly PR ladies, you all are freaking rock stars and are simply amazing at what you do. Your support and team work blows me away daily. I’m so lucky to have you by my side, and I’m so happy to call you my friends. Love you all!
To R, thank you for always having my back and giving me the boost I need to keep going. You will never know how much your friendship means to me. Love you!
To Hilary, Pre, and Crystal, thank you for always supporting me and believing in me. I couldn’t ask for better friends. I love you all, so much.
To Kashunna, thank you for always being there for me. I adore you so much and I’m so thankful for your friendship.
To Clayr, thank you for pimping your little heart out. I appreciate you and adore you to pieces.
To Sarah, thank you for always being there for me and for always listening. And thank you for being an awesome sprinting partner. You’ve become such a great friend to me over the past year and I love ya to pieces!
To Pam, Ang, and Hilary, thank you for your attention to detail and catching my mistakes. I appreciate you all so much!!
To Wander, Andrey and your team, thank you for being so wonderful to work with. You are simply amazing at what you do!
To Marshall, thank you for bringing my Coen to life. I’m truly honored.
To Letitia, thank you for creating this gorgeous cover! You’re great at what you do and I can’t wait to work with you more in the future.
Last, but never least, thank you to my family for supporting me as I chase this dream. I love you to infinity, and beyond.
About the Author
Lizzie Hart Stevens is a devoted wife and mother living in beautiful Western Canada.
Her interests include writing, reading, music and tattoos. When she isn’t busy trying to keep up with her kiddos, you can find her deep in her writing cave or buried in a steamy hot read. She’s a sassy one, with a sexy imagination and she cannot wait to share her stories with you.
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Coming Soon
CRASH, an all new sexy STANDALONE, coming early 2017!
Add CRASH to your Goodreads shelf today.
Full Throttle Page 20